Mounting for drawing rolls



April 15, 1952 c. R. MOGHEE MOUNTING FOR DRAWING ROLLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 6, 1950 H/MLEs A? mg INVENTOR.

RNEY:

April 15, 1952 c, R7 MOGHEE 2,592,718

MOUNTING FOR DRAWING ROLLS Filed Nov. 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v BY EQJQWM ATTORNEYS April 15, 1952 MCGHEE 2,592,718

MOUNTING FOR DRAWING ROLLS Filed Nov. 6, 1950 3 Sheets-$heet 3 11.? III III , (HA/FMS l M 6Hi I INVENTOR- I04 BY fuknflzz.

ATTORNEY-$- Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOUNTING FOR DRAWING ROLLS Charles R. McGhee, Gastonia, N. 0., assignor to Southern Spindle & Flyer 00., Inc., Charlotte, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,232

7 Claims.

ported for rotation in substantially U-shaped grooves of roll stands or brackets.

Proper lubrication of the roller necks in the roll stands has been diftlcult and frequently the lubricant used in lubricating the roller necks adheres to the fibers being processed, resulting in an inferiorroving being formed on the machine on which the rolls are employed. Also, heretofore frequent lubrication has been necessary due to the relatively small quantity of lubricant that could be applied to the roll stands or the roller necks therein and in some instances there has been no lubrication at all with the result that the roller necks or stands or both would become worn in a relatively short period requiring replacement or repair to insure the proper fit of the roller necks in the U-shaped grooves in the roll stands and to eliminate vibration of the bottom rolls.

The latter is a costly and time consuming operation and it is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved mounting for supporting the bottom rolls for rotation in spinning frames and the like which comprises an anti-friction bearing, preferably of the roller type, which is of substantially less length than the length of the exposed portion of the associated roller neck between adjacent sets of bottom rolls and which is adapted to fit into the semicircular groove in which each roller neck is usually supported, and over which roller neck a suitable cap, provided with a lubricant introducing fitting, is fixed for introducing lubricant to the antifriction bearing.

A suitable fibrous washer also surrounds each roller neck between adjacent sets of rolls, opposed ends of these fibrous washers relative to each other being disposed substantially flush with opposed edges of the hearing or roll stand or bracket and the bearing cap also being of such length as to cover the fibrous washers. The fibrous washers prevent the lubricant admitted to the anti-friction bearings from seeping out of the bearings and thus adhering to the drafting or drawing rolls or to the fibers being processed thereby.

. In order to facilitate friction bearing of the type described and the.

the mounting of an antiassociated fibrous washers, various modifications may be required in the roll stands or brackets such as increasing the size of the groove in which the roller necks are normally supported or cutting away a portion of the roll stand and securing additional bearing blocks or housings to the roll stand or bracket.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the del or the like and showing the same in association with the usual weight member and saddle and one of the roll stands and taken substantially along the line l-l in Figure 4;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-4 in Figure 4, showing the manner in whichthe roller necks for front rolls may be supported by the roll stand;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view with parts broken away taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 1 with parts in section and showing the manner in which opposed ends of a plurality of sections of bottom rolls are supported on the spinning frame or the like and also showing the manner in which the medial portions thereof are mounted.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 4 and showing the manner in which the roller neck at one end of a spinning frame and the like is mounted for rotation in the roll stand;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified means for holding the anti-friction hearings in the roll stands with some of the mounted, there being only one of these roll stands 7 I 3 shown in Figure 1. The roll stands II have the roller necks of front, middle and back bottom corrugated rolls l2, l3 and M, respectively, mounted for rotation therein, the particular manner in which these bottom rolls are mounted being peculiar to the present invention. The roll stands H are usually spaced substantially apart from each other and have fixedly secured therebetween a conventional rod l5 on which are pivotally mounted a plurality of top roll supporting members l1, only two of which are shown in Figures 1 and 4. Only fragmentary portions of the top roll supporting members I! are shown-in Figure 4, the corresponding top rolls also being omitted from Figure 4.

The top roll supporting members I! are usually provided with suitable cavities 20 (Figure l) on opposed sides thereof in which the ends of'front, middle and back top rolls 2!, 22 and 23, respectively are mounted for rotation. The top rolls are urged into engagement with coinciding bottom rolls by the usual or other means such as a first saddle'and a second saddle 24 and 25, respectively, the saddle 24 engaging the back and middle rolls 23 and 22 and the second saddle 25 engagin the roller neck of the front roll 2L The rolls 2|, 22 and 23 are provided for the conventional purpose of holding a sliver S downwardly in contact with the upper surfaces of the respective bottom rolls l2, l3 and 14 as the sliver or slivers S travel from the back rolls 23 and [4 to the front rolls l2 and 2 l.

The first saddle 2c is slotted in'the usual manher, as at 2?, this slot being loosely penetrated by a link member 39 which projects upwardly and curves forwardly and is pivotally connected, as at-tl, to the front or second saddle 25. The link member 32 extends downwardly from the saddles 24 and 25, between the back and middle topand bottom rolls and its lower end has a suite able weight lever 33 connected thereto which extends rearwardly and has a suitable Weight 34 on the rear end thereof for applying pressure to the saddles 2:3 and 25 and to the top rolls 2!,

22 and 23 to press the same toward the respective bottom rolls l2, l3 and I4.

In Figure 4 the intermediate roll stand is indicated at I, this being the roll stand which is shown in Figure 1, and the end roll stands are indicated at H 01., these roll stands being identical.

Now, the bottom rolls I2, l3 and [4 are each made in sections providing a plurality of fluted bosses 40 connected to each other by roller necks 4| which are integral with one of the sections and are suitably connected to the other of the sections as by a tapered fit or, as shown in Figure 2, by threading one end of the roller neck as at 42. In order to accommodate the improved means for supporting the bottom rolls, the roller, neck has, in addition to the threaded end portion 42 apair of stepped portions 43 and 44 the. portion 44 being of substantially larger diameter than the portion 43. and the portion 43 being of substantially larger diameter than the threaded portion 42. i V 7 "It will benoted that the end of'each of the roll sections, such as the front bottom roll sections I2, is provided with a bore 45 for slidably receiving the portion 43 of the roller neck 42 and the inner endof this bore 45 is threaded as at 45 for reception of the threaded end 42 of the roller neck 4| 'The portion of the bottom drawing roll l3.'shown in Figure 5 is representative of the end.- mostmiddlebottom roll .on a spinning frame or the like and is shown in association with a drive shaft 56, there being one of these drive shafts 50 associated with each of the said front rolls, middle rolls and back rolls 12, I3 and I4, respectively, all of these drive shafts 50 being identical. Since the drive shafts 5c are connected to the corresponding roll sections in the identical manner in which adjacent roll sections are connected as shown in Figure 4, the roller neck and associated parts in Figure 5 bear the same reference characters as the roller neck 4| in Figure 2 with the prime notation added.

A feature which is common to all of the structures shown in Figures 2, 5 and 8 is that of an antifriction hearing which surrounds the medial portion of the portion 44 of the roller neck between adjacent .sections of rolls and against the remote ends of which are provided flexible or fibrous washers. The cap or housing of the member in which the anti-friction bearing is mounted has asuitable lubricant introducing fitting mounted therein and a passageway is pro-r vided' in the housing or cap for directing the lubricant to the rollers of the anti-friction hearing, the :fibrous washers serving to prevent the lubricant from leaking from the anti-friction bearing onto the adjacent portions of the rolls and thus preventing the lubricant from .damag-- ner of mounting the anti-friction bearing in the roll stand I l is illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, Figure 2 illustrating the preferred manner in which the front bottom rolls [2 are mounted and the showing in Figure 5 illustratingthe manner in which the :middleand back rolls [3 and I4 are mounted in the roll stand.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that the roll stand II has a notch or groove 52 cut in the front upper portion thereof and in'which a front bottom roll bearing block 53 is adapted to fit, this front roll bearing block'being secured in the notch 52 by any suitable means, such as a screw 54. The frontbottom roll bearing block 53 has an enlarged upper portion 55 which is of slightly less thickness than the length of the portion 44 of the roller neck 4! for the purposes to be presently described. The enlarged or second portion 55 of the front'bottom roll bearing block 53 has a bore 56 therethrough which is preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the adjacent end of the bottom roll l2 and in which the outer race 61 of an. anti-friction bearing, broadly designated at, 60 'and'preferably va roller bearing, is secured as by a snug fit. This antifriction bearing 60 has a plurality of circularly arranged rollers 6| which are confined in the fla ges of outer race 51. I

It will be noted that the anti-friction bearing 60 is of less length axially than the thickness of the enlarged or second portion 55 of the bearing block 53 thus providing a space at opposed ends thereof in which fibrous washers or annular seals 62 and 63 are mounted and which are adapted to frictionally engage the walls of the bore 576. The portion 44 of the roller neck 4| is surrounded by the anti-friction bearing 60 and the fibrous washers 62 and .63, and the fibrous Washer .62 is confined in the bore 56 of the bearing block 55 by the shoulder formed in theroll I2 at its juncture with the roller neck 4!. The fibrous washer 63 is confined in the bore 56 by a suit- Now, since the portion 44 of the roller neck 4| is slightly longer than the thickness of the portion 55 of the bearing block 53, although the washer 65 fits snugly against the shoulder at the juncture of the stepped portions 43 and 44, the adjacent roll section |2 may rotate freely with the roller neck 4|. It is evident that there should be only a few thousandths of an inch clearance between the end of the left-hand roll l2 inFigure 2 and the second portion 550i the bearing block 53 and between the washer 65 and the second portion 55 of the bearing block 53. Now, the upper wall of the second portion 55 of the bearing block 53 has a suitable lubricant fitting 66, either threadably or fixedly secured therein, which penetrates the upper wall of the second portion 55. The outer race 51 of the anti-friction bearing 6|] has a hole 61 therein which coincides with the lubricant fitting 66 (Figure 2), whereby upon admitting lubricant to the fitting 66, the lubricant will enter the area in which the rollers 6| are disposed for lubricating the same and the adjacent surface of the roller neck 4|.

It is thus seen that the fibrous washers 62 and 63 will prevent the lubricant, thus admitted to the rollers 6|, from seeping or leaking from the anti-friction bearing 60 outwardly at opposed ends of the portion 44 of the roller neck 4| to thus "insure that the lubricant will not leak onto the roll I2 or the sliver S.

The structure shown in Figure is identical to that shown in Figure 2, with the exception that the end bearing block shown in Figure 5 and the end bearing blocks for the back rolls l4 differ in shape from the bearing block 53 for the front rolls 2.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be observed that the roll stand I I has a pair of substantially rectangular grooves 10 therein each of which a substantially rectangular block 1| is secured by any suitable means, such as a pressed fit.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the bearing block 1| has a bore 12 therethrough which is loosely penetrated by the portion 44 of the roller or shaft neck 4| and this portion 44 is surrounded by the rollers 13 of an anti-friction bearing 14 having an outer race 75 which is suitably secured in the bore 12, as by a pressed fit. The outer race 15 has downturned flanges at 0p-'- posed'sides thereof to confine the rollers 13 therebetween. The anti-friction bearing 14 is of substantially less length than the corresponding bearing block 1| thus providing a space at opposed ends thereof for the insertion of annular seals or fibrous washers T6 and H in the bore 12 which surround the portion 44 in the roller neck 4| A suitable lubricant introducing fitting, commonly termed a grease fitting 80, is threadably orotherwise secured in the upper wall of the bearing block H and penetrates the same and the outer race 15 of the anti-friction bearing 14 is provided with a passageway or hole 9| which coincides with the lubricant fitting 80 for directing lubricant therefrom to the rollers 13. As in the original form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the bore 12 in the bearing block H is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of adjacent rolls, which, in this instance, are the rolls I2, and is smaller in diameter than the ad jacent shaft 50 and the seal 16 is confined in the bore 12 against the left-hand surface (Figure 5) of the anti-friction bearing 14 by the shoulder formed at the juncture of the shaft 50 with the roller neck 4|.

A washer, preferably a metallic or plastic washer 92 is slidably mounted on the portion 43' of the roller neck or shaft neck 4| and upon the threaded end 42' of the drive shaft 5|] being tightened in the threaded portion 46' of the adjacent roll I3, the washer 92 is tightened against the shoulder at the juncture of the portions 43 and 44 of the roller neck 4| to thus confine the seal 11 against the right-hand surface of the antifriction bearing 14. It is evident that the portion 44 of the shaft roller neck 4| should be a few thousandths of an inch greater in length than the length of the bearing block 1| so as to prevent the shaft 50 and the washer 92 from being tightened against opposed sides of the bearing block H as the threaded portion 42 is tightened in the threaded bore 46' of the adjacent roll l3. The fibrous washers or seals 16 and ll of course, pre. vent the lubricant introduced to the rollers 13 of the anti-friction bearing 14 through the fitting from leaking onto the roll |3 where it would damage the fibers being processed.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a modified form of the invention in which a roll stand ||b, similar to the roll stand II, is supported on a roll stand board H1 in the usual manner. The roll stand Ilb is identical to the roll stand H and it is to be understood that, in operation, the bottom rolls carried by the roll stand I II) would have the top rolls and corresponding weights associated therewith substantially in the manner in which the top rolls and weights are shown in Figure 1. However, the top rolls and weights and other parts not pertinent to the present invention have been omitted from the showing in Figures 6 and 7 for purposes of clarity.

The roll stand III) in Figures 6 and 7 supports front, middle and back bottom rolls |0|, I02 and H13, respectively, which are identical to the bottom rolls I2, I 3 and |4 shown in Figure 1. In Figure 8, there are shown adjacent ends of roll sections such as the bottom r011 sections; |0| and it will be noted that they are connected by a roller neck 4| a which is substantially the same as the roller necks 4| and 4| heretofore described, and therefore the portions of the roller neck 4|a will bear the same reference characters as the roller neck 4| heretofore described with the letter a being affixed to each reference character. The form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and '7 and 8 is different from that shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, in that a separate bearing is not employed in supporting the antifriction bearings.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the roll stands lib, only one of which is shown, are provided with semi-circular grooves I04, I05 and I06 for respective rolls lfll, I02 and IE3. The front bottom roll is most clearly shown in Figure 8 and the roller neck 4|a thereof is surrounded by an anti-friction bearing I01 in the form of a roller bearing having an outer race H0 and a plurality of circularly arranged rolls which are confined in the outer race |01 by the inturned flanges thereof. The semi-circular cavity or groove [B4 is of such diameter that the anti-friction bearing I01 will fit snugly therein. The anti-friction bearing I0] is of less area-vie length than the width of the 'upperportion of the roll stand ll b 'thusproviding a space at op"- posed ends thereof for mounting fibrous washers or annular seals H2 and l 13 in the semi-circular groove N34. The annular seals H2 and H3 are confined by the adjacent end of the roll 50! and a washer H4, respectively, in a like manner to the original form of the invention.

In order to confine the roller bearing fill and the annular seals 1 I2 and l l3 in the semi circular groove I94, there is provided a bearing cap H5 having a concave lower surface H6 which surmounts the upper portions of the anti-friction bearing it! and the seals H2 and H3. In order to prevent rotation of the bearing cap '5, it is preferably of such width as to slidably fit be! tween thewalls of thegro'ove M4. The outer race lid of the anti-friction bearing I01 has a hole or passageway H8 therein and the cap 115 is penetrated by the lower end of a lubricant introducing fitting ill for introducing lubricant to the rollers l l i of the anti-friction bearing Hll. In order to insure that the lubricant fitting Ill may be properly alined with the corresponding passageway H5 in the outer race H of the anti-friction bearing Iill, it is preferable that the bearing cap H be secured to the outer 'race I ill of the anti-friction bearing l'lll, as by a sweat fit, or by soldering the bearing cap H5 to the outer race I iii of. the anti-friction bearing I07.

Referring again to Figure 6, a bearing cap H541 is employed in securing the anti-friction hearings in the corresponding grooves H and M6, the anti-friction bearings in the grooves I05 and 106 being identical to the anti-friction bearing In! and, also, having seals in association therewithwhich are identical to the seals. H2 and H3; The bearing cap' 511 differs from the bearing cap H5 in that it extends over the necks of both of the rolls Hi2 and I03 and is suitably secured to a raised portion I20 of the roll stand I iii-between the rolls I82 and 03 by any suitable means such as a screw lZl. The bearing cap 5a is also provided with a pair of spaced lubricant introducing fittings Illa and lb which are identical to the fitting Ill in Figure 8, and which are employed in an identical manner. It is also preferred that the anti-friction bearings associated with the rolls IUZ and I03 be secured to the corresponding portions of the bearing cap H511 by any suitable means, such as soldering.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved m'anner of mounting the bottom rolls on spinning frames and the like which includes an anti-friction bearing surrounding the roller necks at the juncture of adjacent roll sections to which lubricant may be directed and having suitable seals at opposed sides of the anti-friction hearings to prevent lubricant from leaking onto the rolls. 7

Heretofore, where the roller necks have been 'supported for frictional rotation in the U-shaped or semi-circular cavities of the bearing stands, the friction load thus caused on the roller necks of the series of axially extending roll sections is so great as to cause a variable degree of twist in'the rolls from the ends at which the power was directed to the rolls to the opposite ends of the rolls thus causing the rolls to produce an uneven twist in the yarn being processed. This would also cause friction at the roller necks to such a degree that it would cause the necks to crystallize and break making it necessary to stop the textile machine for repair.

The particular lubricant fitting shown in the drawings are especially of aitype for introducing lubricant of arelatively high viscosityto the anti friction bearings and, in experiments conducted? evident that a tapered connection may be pro-.

vi'ded between the roller neck of oneiroll and the corresponding roll section. .It is evident that by using the improved mountingiforxdrawiug rolls 7 the source. of wear on the bearing of "the roll stands is eliminated while heretofore the roller neck would w'earqdownwherelthe bearingse'atsto such an extent as to cause the rollsto-becomeimproperly alined resultingiin excessive neck breakage and the necessity of repairing or replacing the roll stands.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of'tlie invention and although specific'terms are employed, they are used a generic and descriptive "sense only andnot for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention beingdefined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a roving frame, spinning frame and the like having roll stands and also having bottom rolls therein connected together by roller necks, an improved mountingfor supporting each of the roller necks connecting said bottom rolls comprising an anti-frictionbearing mounted 'inthe roll stands adjacent each of said roller necks and bein of substantially less axial length than the axial length of the roller neck and surrounding the roller neck, annular lubricant seals positioned about the roller necks at opposed ends of the V anti riction bearing, means for introducing a lubricant to the V anti-friction bearing, the diameter of the adjacent rolls being slightly greater than the diameters of the anti friction bearing and the lubricant seals, the end of one of the adjacent rolls serving to hold one of said lubricant seals in position, a washer positioned about the roller neck and adapted to hold the otherof said lubricant seals in position, whereby said roller necks may 'rotate freely in said anti-fric'tion bearings and the lubricant seals will-prevent lubricant from leaking onto the adjacent rolls.

2. In a roving frame, a-spinning frame and the like having roll stands and also having bottom rolls therein connected togetherby roller necks, an improved mounting for supporting each of said roller necks connecting the rolls comprising an anti-friction bearing mounted in the roll stands adjacent each of said roller necks and being of substantially less axial length than the axial length of the roller neck and surrounding the roller neck, annular lubricant seals positioned about the roller neck at opposed ends of the ant-friction bearing, means .fonintroducing a lubricant .to the anti-friction bearing, one .of said annular lubricantseals being held in position by theend of the adjacent roll and a washer positioned about the roller neck and adapted to hold the other of said annular lubricantseals "in position to prevent lubricant from leaking onto the adjacent rolls, and that portion of the roller neck extending through'the anti-friction bearing being of slightlygreater axial length than the corresponding lengthrof the'roll stand to permit free rotation of th roller neck and rolls in the roll stand.

3. In a roving frame, spinning frame and the like having roll stands and also having bottom rolls provided with roller necks supported for rotation in the roll stands, an improved mounting for each of said roller necks comprising a bearing block secured to each of the roll stands, each of said bearing blocks having a laterally extending bore therethrough of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the rolls and through which the corresponding roller neck extends, said roller neck being slightly longer than the width of the bearing block, an anti-friction bearing surrounding the roller neck and in which the roller neck has rotational movement, said antifriction bearing having an outer race provided with at least one opening therein, said anti-friction bearing being mounted in the laterally extending bore in the bearing block and being of less axial length than the width of said bearing block, a flexible seal mounted in opposed ends of the bearing block and confining said antifriction bearing, means for introducing a lubricant through the opening in the outer race of said anti-friction bearing, said roller neck having a reduced portion extending therefrom of less diameter than the portion extending through the bearing block, a rigid washer mounted on the reduced portion of the roller neck and engaging the shoulder formed at the juncture of the two portions of the roller neck, said washer serving to retain the flexible seal in one side of the bearing block and the roll at the other side of the bearing block serving to retain the flexible seal in the corresponding side of the bearing block whereby, upon a lubricant being admitted to the anti-friction bearing, the flexible seals will prevent the lubricant from leaking from the antifriction bearing onto the adjacent rolls and fibers being processed thereby.

4. In a roving frame, spinning frame and the like having roll stands and also having bottom rolls provided with roller necks supported for rotation in the roll stands, an improved mounting for each of said roller necks comprising a bearing block secured to each of the roll stands, each of said bearing blocks having a laterally extending bore therein through which the corresponding roller neck extends, said roller neck being slightly longer than the lateral width of the bearing block, an anti-friction bearing surrounding the roller neck and in which the roller neck has rotational movement, said anti-friction bearing having an outer race fixed in said bearing block and provided with at least one opening therein, the antifriction bearing being of less axial length than the lateral width of said bearing block, a flexible seal mounted in opposed ends of the bearing block and confining said anti-friction bearing, means for introducing a lubricant through the opening in the outer race of said anti-friction bearing, a washer mounted on the roller neck and serving to retain the flexible seal in one side of the bearing block bushing and the roll at the other side of the bearing block serving to retain the flexible seal in the corresponding side of the bearing block whereby, upon a lubricant being admitted to the anti-friction bearing, the flexible seals will prevent the lubricant from leaking from the antifriction bearing onto the adjacent rolls and fibers being processed thereby.

5. In a roving frame and the like having a plurality of bottom drawing rolls connected by roller necks and also having a plurality of roll stands, improved means for supporting each of the roller necks of the bottom drawing rolls for rotation on the roll stands comprising said roller necks being of a slightly longer length than the 10 width of the roll stand, each of the roll stands having a groove therein, an anti-friction roller bearing surrounding the medial portion of the roller neck and having an outer race fitted into the corresponding groove in the roll stand, the axial length of the anti-friction bearing being substantially less than the axial length of the roller neck, a flexible seal surrounding the roller neck at each side of the anti-friction bearing, a bearing cap fixedly secured to the'oute-r, race of the anti-friction bearing for holding the same in the groove, means for introducing lubricant to the anti-friction bearing comprising a lubricant fitting penetrating the bearing cap and said. outer race having a bore therethrough coinciding with the lubricant fitting, said seals serving to prevent the lubricant from escaping from the bearing onto the adjacent ends of the rolls and the length of the roller necks being such as to permit free rotation of the roller neck in said anti-friction bearing.

6. In a roving frame and the like having a plurality of bottom drawing rolls connected by roller necks and also having a plurality of roll stands, an improved means for supporting each of the roller necks of the bottom drawing rolls for rotation on the roll stands comprising a U-shaped groove in each of said roll stands, an anti-friction bearing mounted in each of said U-shaped grooves, each of said anti-friction. bearings surrounding the medial portion of the corresponding roller neck, the axial length oi; each anti-friction bearing being substantially less than the axial length of the corresponding roller neck, a flexible seal positioned around each roller neck at each side of the anti-friction bearing, each of said anti-friction bearings having an outer race provided with at least one opening therein, a bearing cap suitably secured to the outer race of each of said anti-friction bearings and having a lubricant introducing fitting therein for introducing lubricant to the anti-friction bearings, the end of one adjacent bottom roll serving to hold one of said flexible seals in position, a washer positioned about each of said roller necks and serving to hold the other of said flexible seals in position, whereby lubricant will be prevented from escaping from said anti-friction bearings onto the adjacent rolls and the fibers being proc essed thereby.

'7. In a roving frame and the like having a plurality of bottom drawing rolls connected by roller necks and also having a plurality of roll stands, an improved means for supporting each of the roller necks of the bottom drawing rolls for rotation on the roll stands comprising a U-shaped groove in each of said roll stands, ran anti-friction bearing mounted in each of said U-shaped grooves, each of said anti-friction bearings surrounding the medial portion of the corresponding roller neck, the axial length of each anti-friction bearing being substantially less than the axial length of the corresponding roller neck, a flexible seal positioned around each roller neck at each side of the anti-friction bearing, each of said anti-friction bearings having an outer race provided with at least one opening therein, a bearing cap suitably secured to the outer race of each of said anti-friction bearings and having a lubricant introducing fitting therein for introducing lubricant to the anti-friction bearings, the end of one adjacent bottom r'oll serving to hold one of said flexible seals in position, a washer positioned about each of said roller necks and serving to hold the other of said flexible seals in "riositi'on; whereby lubricant will be prevented from escaping from said anti-friction bearings onto the adjacent 'rollsriand the fibers being processed REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in'the file of this patent:

Number 16 Number 7 F2 UNITED: S'IZ YIEE' PATENTS Name Date Northway Mar. 4-, 1941 'Tarr Nov. 20, 1945 Robinson Dec. 10, 1946 Stearns Nov. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 9, 1939 

